For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure: Tempted By Squeeze at the Bronco Bowl in 1988

By Robert Wilonsky Fri., Jun. 10 2011 at 6:39 PM

Far as I'm concerned, there's never been a bad Squeeze record. Sure, some are better than others -- that five-record run from the eponymous debut to Sweets From a Stranger is almost unparalleled in modern pop. But Babylon and On did provide The Big Hit ("Hourglass"), while Play has some lovely moments. Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook weren't the Lennon and McCartney (or Davies) of new wave for nothing. No "worst"; just some "less great."

They were, he said fondly, among the first bands I ever saw live -- at the Bronco Bowl on July 9, 1982, a "Hot Klub Presents" show featuring Flock of Seagulls, Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns, and The Producers. Matter of fact, that's my framed cardboard keepsake you see here. Saw them again three years later -- same venue, not quite the same line-up, so what. Difford and Tilbrook were there, that's all that mattered. (Jools too?) Three years later they came back again -- same venue, not quite the same line-up, just like broken clockwork.

This afternoon, completely by accident, I found a rather nicely preserved copy of that show: February 14, 1988, at the Bronco Bowl, for which you'll need this to open. (Heads up: Don't unpack without both parts. When I unpacked, it said it was corrupted or broken or some such; naw, it was plenty perfect.) All the hits and then some, from "Take Me I'm Yours" to "Goodbye Girl" to "Pulling Mussels (From a Shell)" to "Tempted" to "Is That Love?," presently at the top of my personal pops. A perfect summer's night listening. To pilfer from one Nick Lowe, pure pop for now people, even now.

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LaceyB

My memory of Squeeze was that it was one of three playable tracks on the "Reality Bites" Soundtrack, when I was in Jr. High. My parents often bought soundtracks to avoid having to buy multiple CDs, bc, times were tight, ya know.

The other two: The Knack's "My Sharona" and Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way".

Not bad for a band that repeatedly played this Bronco Bowl.

john council

In 1987 I spent a semester in London going to college and seeing as many bands as possible. The best show of many great shows I saw there was easily Squeeze --- Jools was in the line up and Babylon and On had yet to come out making Squeeze bigger in the states. It's still hard to fathom this --- then and now --- but they played a dining room that was next to a pub in East London. Admission was a mere 6 pounds British Sterling.

Bigjondaniel

And here lies the secret to seeing live music.... Go support the local bands and local small venues. Seek out new-ish bands that are touring and creating a buzz. Be curious and adventuresome. Try to catch bands before they become more bloated and overworked than Shutze's prostate.

ChrisU

also worthy of mention the Difford & Tillbrook album from '84. would like to see them revisit some of those songs in 'Squeeze' fashion.

Syd_Nancy

Squeeze Nice

Devin Pike

Robert, Jools Holland was in the lineup for the "Babylon And On" tour. I was at the show, a consolation for a horrible Valentine's Day breakup. 10,000 Maniacs was at the top half of the bill, and it remains one of the best shows I saw at the Bronco Bowl.

Bigjondaniel

Joe King Currasco and the Crowns at Poor David's on June 24

G_David

Wow, The Producers. Don't think I've thought of them since they rolled through Denton in '89 or so and played their asses off to a crowd of about 30, myself included. She Sheila and What's He Got are two of the great long-forgotten blast of pop adrenaline from the 80s, both of which I need to go find on Amazon.

As for Squeeze, I must have listened to the Singles disc about 1,254 times, give or take. The first 20 or so listens, I thought he was singing "pulling muscles for Michelle". I wondered what kind of sadistic bitch would get off on something like that.

Vyvyan

Did the Hooters open the show in '85?

Gary

Hooters indeed were on before Squeeze in 85. Was there yet another band that proceeded the Hooters? Or am I thinking of someone who opened for The Alarm?